ROCKY MOUNTAIN SECTION OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
                              &
           IEEE LASERS AND ELECTROOPTICS SOCIETY


                        Nov. Meeting

Date:  Thursday, 15 Nov. 2001
Time:  7:00 PM refreshments, 7:30 PM talk
Place: CU’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
       1234 Innovation Dr., Boulder, CO
       Main Auditorium (Rm 295)


Title: A Life on the Edge of Optics:  From the Magnifying
       Glass to Optical SETI, Terrestrial Planet Finder, 
       and Beyond

       Steve Kilston
       Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
       Boulder, CO


Abstract:

Dr. Kilston will speak on his lifetime of optics experiences 
from an astronomer and earth scientist's perspective.  In 
this talk he will touch upon his insights and share his 
experiences with optics and optical instruments ranging from 
the relatively recent evolution of astronomical optics from 
simple geometrically-derived designs to modern physical 
optics-based projects such as Terrestrial Planetary Finder 
and the astronomical projects beyond these that will allow us 
to colonize extrasolar planets.


Biography:

Dr. Kilston has worked in many fields applying optical 
systems, including astronomy, laser communications and space-
based lasers, and planetarium and laser shows. Currently 
managing the initial concept design phases of the Terrestrial 
Planet Finder at Ball Aerospace, he has been an aerospace 
systems engineer on a great variety of space programs at 
Hughes Aircraft and at Lockheed Palo Alto Research Labs, 
where he was the principal designer and promoter of the 1-
meter optical resolution Commercial Remote Sensing System 
(IKONOS), which the New York Times called "one of the most 
significant developments in the history of the space age."  
At Harvard he was Carl Sagan's first undergraduate research 
student, writing "A Search for Life on Earth at Kilometer 
Resolution." His doctoral dissertation at UCLA, "On the 
Nature of the Carbon Stars," proved stars manufacture the 
chemical elements in our bodies.